Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, or “CZ,” is back in the spotlight after serving four months in prison. One of Zhao’s first public appearances was at the Binance Blockchain Week conference, where he discussed his experiences, future plans, and current relationship with the exchange he founded.
In a podcastZhao shared his experiences while out of the public eye. For Zhao, what he missed most was the human connections. It can be recalled that Binance’s founder was charged with violations of the Banking Secrecy Act and accepted a settlement with the authorities.
He complained that he was the first to serve a prison sentence for this offense. The Founder of Binance added that there were other high-profile cases, such as the $1.8 billion fine against TD Bank, but no one was charged in this fiasco.
Zhao claims he is no longer involved in Binance’s activities
In that podcast, CZ spoke extensively about his relationship and prospects with the exchange he founded. He also pointed out that he was still one of the largest shareholders, but was no longer part of the management team.
He also shot down reports that he would be banned from running cryptocurrency exchanges for life. Zhao added that a ban was not included in last year’s plea deal.
Bitcoin market cap currently at $1.36 trillion. Chart: TradingView.com
He added that he is now focusing on other ventures, including Giggle Academy, and mentioned that he had investments in AI, blockchain and biotech. Although he is one of the largest shareholders, Zhao has clearly stated that he is no longer keen to return to help with operations.
Zhao remains optimistic about the future of Crypto
When asked about his opinion on the crypto market, Zhao said he remains optimistic about the long-term growth of the sector. However, he warned holders and stakeholders of the short-term risks and volatility.
Zhao then turned to the topic of Bitcoin’s historical path of the four-year cycle. Ultimately, Binance’s CEO also shared his position regarding the positive regulatory developments with the public.
Zhao and his plans for the Giggle Academy
By breaking away from Binance, Zhao is slowly embracing other topics, including the Giggle Academy. He described the new project as an educational initiative that promises to provide digital education to more than 1 billion people who have no or limited access to primary education.
Zhao said the initiative will rely on artificial intelligence and teachers to create interactive lessons delivered on different devices.
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